Whose Body?: Lord Peter Wimsey: Book 1

It was the body of a tall stout man. On his dead face, a handsome pair of gold pince-nez mocked death with grotesque elegance. The body wore nothing else.Lord Peter Wimsey knew immediately what the corpse was supposed to be. His problem was to find out whose body had found its way into Mr Alfred Thipps' Battersea bathroom.

Whose Body?: The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries, Book 1

Enter the 1920s Golden Age of Detection with this first novel from Dorothy L. Sayers, featuring the debut of a dashing gentleman detective, one of the great characters of mystery fiction - Lord Peter Wimsey. An unidentified corpse is found in a bathtub, and the police are jumping to conclusions about its identity and that of the murderer. Lord Peter Wimsey steps in and, with the help of his friend, Inspector Parker; and his manservant, Bunter, solves the mystery.

Thrilled to see Sayers appearing at Audible USA!!!

This is the first book in the Lord Peter Wimsey series, and it's definitely worth listening to. It provides an interesting and bizarre mystery with a ..Show More »unique criminal, a brief but poignant examination of shell shock after WW1 (Sayers' husband suffered from this), and a wonderful array of Sayers eccentric supporting characters. These include the incomparable Dowager Duchess of Denver, Mr. Thipps and his fabulous mother Mrs. Thipps, their housemaid Gladys and her boyfriend, the delightfully dim Freddy Arbuthnot, and of course the omnipotent Bunter. Wimsey is a little over the top in this, his first outing, but he settles down as the series goes on so no need to be put off by that. I also really like David Case as the reader. I know most people probably won't agree with me, but I prefer him to Ian Carmichael even though Carmichael is the ultimate voice of Lord Peter Wimsey for so many of us. I just feel that Carmichael has a tendency to make Wimsey sound angry and irritable too much of the time and misses some of Sayers' wonderful humor that way, and that Case has a more nuanced and accurate reading of the character. We haven't been able to get audio recordings of Sayers for some years on this side of the Atlantic, but I hope that the fact that we've seen two new ones appear in Audible offerings in the last couple of months indicates that the legal tangles (whatever they were) are over and that we will once again have access to these wonderful audiobooks, I can not wait for "Murder Must Advertise"!!!

Whose Body?

Amateur detective Lord Peter Wimsey sets out to unravel a puzzling case involving the disappearance of a wealthy financier and the discovery of a corpse in a bathtub. He does succeed in solving things to everyone's ultimate satisfaction, but only after a series of bloodcurdling and hair-raising episodes that will hold the listener spellbound with anticipation.

Five stars, and yet. . .

. . . this is perhaps not one of Sayers's most memorable mysteries, but one of the few that is available. I wish that Audible carried more of her tit..Show More »les.

Whose Body?

Meet Lord Peter Wimsey, stylish, eccentric, seeming a fool, but in fact one of the great English detectives. The discovery of a body in a bathtub wearing only a pair of spectacles launches a motley set of sleuths and suspects toward a ghastly conclusion.

Great story; not so great narrator

I have just discovered Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey series and I love the stories. (The radio dramatizations starring Ian Carmichael, 3 of w..Show More »hich are available on Audible, are fantastic.)

This story is no exception: Other than a fairly long 'confession' at the end (which kind of drags), this story is great, and I love the Peter Wimsey character.

Unfortunately, this narrator was terrible, at least for this story. I think a woman was probably a bad choice to begin with (the Peter Wimsey stories seem more suited to a male voice), but it was compounded by her determination to keep all the humour out. I also felt that she didn't really understand the lingo of the period, so she kept putting the stresses on the wrong syllables or words in sentences or something.

It's not the worst narration of a book I've ever heard, but it was disappointing because it really didn't do justice to the material. Unless you're a big Sayers fan, I recommend sticking to the radio dramatizations.

(Note to Audible: Would love to see some more Sayers books on here, BTW!)

Clouds of Witness: Lord Peter Wimsey Book 2

The best of the golden age crime writers, praised by all the top modern writers in the field including P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L. Sayers created the immortal Lord Peter Wimsey. His second appearance is a thrilling quest to save his own brother - the Duke of Denver - from the hangman. The Duke of Denver, accused of murder, stands trial for his life in the House of Lords. Naturally, his brother Lord Peter Wimsey is investigating the crime - this is a family affair.

Clouds of Witness: The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries, Book 2

In a shocking scandal, the likes of which has not been seen in the English aristocracy since the 18th century, the Duke of Denver stands accused of the foul murder or his sister's fiancé, shot through the heart on a cold, lonely night at Riddlesdale Hall in Yorkshire. The duke's brother, Lord Peter Wimsey, attempts to prove Denver's innocence, but why is the duke refusing to cooperate? And what does his sister, Lady Mary, know about the affair? Trying to reveal the truth, Wimsey uncovers a web of lies and deceit.

Ian Carmichael is the quintessential Wimsey.

A terrific classic of the golden age. The way in which three of the characters' stories get intertwined produces a very enjoyable mystery. The class ..Show More »distinctions of the English nobility, as well as some of the consequences of the First World War, are mixed up with the funny and erudite deductions of Lord Peter. As for Mr. Carmichael's narration, he is truly the quintessential Wimsey. He gets the spirit and tone of the book perfectly. Highly recommended. Can't wait to continue with the series.

Unnatural Death: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 3

The best of the golden age crime writers, praised by all the top modern writers in the field including P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L. Sayers created the immortal Lord Peter Wimsey. His third appearance is a story of murder in a most respectable seaside resort. 'No sign of foul play,' says Dr Carr after the post-mortem on Agatha Dawson. The case is closed. But Lord Peter Wimsey is not satisfied . . .With no clues to work on, he begins his own investigation.

Unnatural Death: A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery, Book 3

The wealthy Agatha Dawson is dead and there are no apparent signs of foul play. Lord Peter Wimsey, however, senses that something is amiss and he refuses to let the case rest - even without any clues or leads. Suddenly, he is faced with another murder - Agatha's maid. Can super-sleuth Wimsey find the murderer and solve the case before he becomes the killer's next victim?

At last! Sayers read by Ian Charmichael

A Dorothy Sayers (unabridged) novel narrated by Ian Carmichael is a marriage made in heaven. Carmichael has narrated most of the Sayers Lord Peter nov..Show More »els and he is without rival for excellence in this genre. In this recording of Unnatural Death Sayers' complex and riveting story of clever deception and calculated murder is brought to its full dramatic heights by narrator Ian Carmichael.

Lord Peter Views the Body: Lord Peter Wimsey Book 4

The best of the golden age crime writers, praised by all the top modern writers in the field including P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L. Sayers created the immortal Lord Peter Wimsey. He made his fifth appearance in this brilliant collection of ingenious short stories. The best of the golden age crime writers, praised by all the top modern writers in the field including P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L. Sayers created the immortal Lord Peter Wimsey.

Great stories but am unused to the narrator

loved the stories brought to life. the narrator does a good job with the tone and emotion. but somehow the fact that a woman was voicing the main..Show More »ly male casts of characters put me off a bit.

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 5

Lord Peter Wimsey bent down over General Fentiman and drew the Morning Post gently away from the gnarled old hands. Then, with a quick jerk, he lifted the quiet figure. It came up all of a piece, stiff as a wooden doll...But how did the general die? Who was the mysterious Mr X who fled when he was wanted for questioning? And which of the general's heirs, both members of the Bellona Club, is lying? 'I admire her novels ... she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail' Ruth Rendell

Strong Poison: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 6

Can Lord Peter Wimsey prove that Harriet Vane is not guilty of murder - or find the real poisoner in time to save her from the gallows? Impossible, it seems. The Crown's case is watertight. The police are adamant that the right person is on trial. The judge's summing-up is also clear. Harriet Vane is guilty of the killing her lover. And Harriet Vane shall hang. But the jury disagrees.

Strong Poison: A Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane Mystery

Dashing detective Lord Peter Wimsey is caught up in the murder trial of mystery writer Harriet Vane. Her fiance has died of poisoning exactly as described in one of Harriet's novels, so naturally she is the prime suspect. As Peter looks on, he not only falls in love with the accused but eagerly helps with Harriet's defense when the first trial ends in a hung jury. Will she be convicted and executed for the crime, or can he save her life and win her hand in marriage?

At Last

I have been waiting for more unabridged audiobook versions of the Lord Peter novels by Dorothy Sayers, preferably read by Ian Carmichael ever since I ..Show More »joined Audible several years ago. I love Dorothy L. Sayers's prose, I love Lord Peter and I love how Ian Carmichael interprets him. I hope the rest of the series will be added soon. (Please, Audible, do the entire series, including Five Red Herrings read by Patrick Malahide.)

For those new to Sayers and Lord Peter, this book is in the middle of the series, but the first that introduces his love interest, Harriet Vane, who is on trial for murder. Since at that time and place a swift hanging was the result of a guilty verdict, Lord Peter, who has fallen in love with her during the trial feels great pressure to clear her name in time! This book also contains Miss Climpson, one of my favorite secondary characters of all time. She and Miss Silver and Miss Marple are all spinster detectives invented within a year of each other by English mystery writers.

So a fairly good place to jump into the series, but I hope more will be available soon from Audible US.

Five Red Herrings: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 7

The best of the golden age crime writers, praised by all the top modern writers in the field including P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L. Sayers created the immortal Lord Peter Wimsey. His eighth appearance takes him to an artists' colony (based on a real one) in Scotland during the 1920s. Lord Peter Wimsey could imagine the artist stepping back, the stagger, the fall down to where the pointed rocks grinned like teeth.

Have His Carcase: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 8

The best of the golden age crime writers, praised by all the top modern writers in the field including P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L. Sayers created the immortal Lord Peter Wimsey. In his eighth appearance (and the second book featuring Harriet Vane), he solves a murder on a deserted English beach. With an introduction by Elizabeth George. A young woman falls asleep on a deserted beach and wakes to discover the body of a man whose throat has been slashed from ear to ear...

Hangman's Holiday: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 9

The best of the golden age crime writers, praised by all the top modern writers in the field including P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L. Sayers created the immortal Lord Peter Wimsey. This book of short stories is his ninth appearance and introduces another detective, Montague Egg. Poisoned port, pet cats in peril, purloined pearls... Lord Peter Wimsey solves the mysteries of the man who was blown into the fourth dimension and the murder in fancy dress.

Murder Must Advertise: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 10

The best of the golden age crime writers, praised by all the top modern writers in the field including P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L. Sayers created the immortal Lord Peter Wimsey. In his tenth appearance, he takes a job as an advertising copywriter to expose a ruthless killer. Victor Dean fell to his death on the stairs of Pym's Advertising Agency, but no one seems to be sorry. Until an inquisitive new copywriter joins the firm and asks some awkward questions....

The Nine Tailors: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 11

The best of the golden age crime writers, praised by all the top modern writers in the field including P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L. Sayers created the immortal Lord Peter Wimsey. The 11th book featuring Lord Peter, set in a country church, is often named as the best detective story ever written. When his sexton finds a corpse in the wrong grave, the rector of Fenchurch St Paul asks Lord Peter Wimsey to find out who the dead man was and how he came to be there.

Gaudy Night: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 12

The best of the golden age crime writers, praised by all the top modern writers in the field including P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L. Sayers created the immortal Lord Peter Wimsey. The twelfth book featuring Lord Peter (the third novel to feature Harriet Vane) is set in an Oxford women's college. Harriet Vane has never dared to return to her old Oxford college. Now, despite her scandalous life, she has been summoned back.

Gaudy Night

I've adored this novel for 20 years. This reading of it made me dislike Harriet and Peter.

Busman's Honeymoon: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 13

They plan to have a quiet country honeymoon. Then Lord Peter Wimsey and his bride, Harriet Vane, find the previous owner's body in the cellar. Set in a country village seething with secrets and snobbery, this is Dorothy L. Sayers' last full-length detective novel. Variously described as a love story with detective interruptions and a detective story with romantic interruptions, it lives up to both descriptions with style.

excellent book

A great combination of light hearted murder mystery and romance . The narration is fine, except for a few spots of some poor editing near the beginn..Show More »ing

In the Teeth of the Evidence: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 14

All that was left of the garage was a heap of charred and smouldering beams. In the driving seat of the burnt-out car were the remains of a body.... An accident, said the police. An accident, said the widow. She had been warning her husband about the danger of the car for months. Murder, said the famous detective Lord Peter Wimsey - and proceeded to track down the killer.

Striding Folly: Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 15

Three of Lord Peter Wimsey's most baffling cases demonstrate his unique detection skills at their most spectacular. The engima of a house numbered thirteen in a street of even numbers; an indignant child accused of theft; a dream about a game of chess that uncovers the true story behind a violent death. Each of the stories introduces a different side of the twentieth century's most ingenious detective hero.